Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus and method for automated food preparation systems for coating food items with a coating material. An example device comprises a first subsystem, a second subsystem, a compression device, and an item retrieval lift. The compression device is configured to assist with combining a coating material to the food item.

Abstract: A new and improved automated bun handling and toasting system and method are disclosed comprising a plurality of horizontally oriented bun storage tubes mounted upon a carousel, and an indexing system operatively connected to the carousel so as to rotate the carousel in a predetermined incremental manner and thereby dispose a particular one of the plurality of horizontally oriented bun storage tubes at a predetermined discharge position such that a bun can be discharged from the particular bun storage tube. The discharged bun has a vertical orientation, however, a bun separator separates the bun into its crown and heel bun segments which then attain horizontal orientations with the internal surface portions facing upwardly so as to pass through a toaster appliance so as to be toasted.

Abstract: An automatic packaging dispensing system comprises a plurality of different packaging boxes disposed in vertical stacks upon a plurality of packaging box platforms, and a plurality of different wrapping paper packaging sheets disposed within trays housed within a housing. A vacuum pickup device is located at vacuum pickup station toward which a predeterminedly selected one of the plurality of different packaging boxes, or a predeterminedly selected one of the plurality of different wrapping paper packaging sheets, may be moved such that the vacuum pickup device may pick up the predeterminedly selected one of the different packaging boxes or wrapping paper packaging sheets and transfer the predeterminedly selected one of the different packaging boxes or wrapping paper packaging sheets to a downstream location.

Abstract: A new and improved automatic sauce dispensing system, which is to be utilized in restaurants, particularly fast-food restaurants, in order to quickly and accurately prepare food products, such as, for example, conventional hamburger sandwiches which require two buns, or Big Mac® sandwiches which require three buns, or other food items which desire or require to have specific sauces deposited thereon in accordance with specific patron orders, is disclosed. A plurality of sauce containers are fluidically connected to a plurality of sauce dispensing valves which are capable of being moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of food products along a food product conveyor. The dispensing valves are therefore capable of being located at any xy coordinate relative to the food product conveyor so as to accurately dispense and deposit a particular sauce onto a food product.

Abstract: A brachytherapy seed cartridge assembly includes an elongate movable shield, formed from a radiation-shielding material, that is slideably supported so as to movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The cartridge assembly also provides a quick-connect feature for a more efficient assembly and disassembly.

Abstract: A brachytherapy seed cartridge assembly includes an elongate movable shield, formed from a radiation-shielding material, that is slideably supported so as to movable between an extended position and a retracted position. The cartridge assembly also provides a quick-connect feature for a more efficient assembly and disassembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for attaching a spout having a flange to a preformed hole in an open-ended container. The apparatus comprises of an applicator system and a mandrel. The applicator system is able to translate a linear motion to an arc motion. The mandrel is attached to the applicator system. The mandrel is adapted to releasably engage the spout.

Abstract: An easy-opening, liquid-tight package has an interior space for storage. The package includes a front wall, a rear wall opposing the front wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a bottom wall and a top wall opposing the bottom wall. A seal wall is contiguous with the top wall and extends from a juncture of the top wall and the seal wall. The seal wall has an edge that is opposite the juncture. The seal wall is sealed to the front wall at an exterior surface of the front wall. At least one line of weakness is formed in the top wall, extending from the seal wall at the edge into the top wall. The line of weakness defines a cover portion of the top wall. The cover portion is formed from a portion of the seal wall and a portion of the top wall. When the top wall and seal wall are separated along the line of weakness, the cover portion is separable from the package to define an open area for accessing the interior storage space of the package. A blank for the package is also disclosed.

Abstract: A filling system for filling soup into gable top cartons is disclosed wherein the dripping of soup from the fill tube is substantially diminished by the present invention. The filling system includes a product tank, a knife-gate valve, a pump mechanism, a fill tube with a circumferential recessed area, and a sealing cone with a cutting edge. The cutting edge of the sealing cone prevents particulates from interfering with the sealing of the fill tube by the sealing cone. The knife-gate valve prevents the flow of product from the product tank during filling of a carton. The product tank may have an agitating means for evenly distributing the particulates throughout the soup.

Abstract: Substantially parallelepipedic packaging and gable-top containers for liquid contents, for example milk, are manufactured by folding and sealing of laminated packaging material and include two substantially planar end portions, as well as four vertical wall panels. The volume of the packaging container may be increased in relation to the area of the packaging material employed in that the vertical wall panels, the primary wall panels, are supplemented with secondary wall panels which are defined by straight, vertical fold lines which, at the upper and lower ends of the panels, respectively, merge into pairwise converging diagonal fold lines which intersect at a point. In a blank for the packaging containers, the wall panels are defined throughout the greater part of their length, by straight, parallel, vertical fold lines.

Abstract: The present invention is an eight-sided carton and a blank therefor. The carton has eight side panels, a gable top structure and an inverse pyramidal bottom. The carton may have an octagonal cross-section. A plurality of diagonal score lines provide for a graceful transition from the gable top structure to the side panels, and from the side panels to the inverse pyramidal bottom. The blank has a plurality of vertical score lines which form the edges and the apices of the eight-sided carton.

Abstract: A retainable access tab for a laminate for a carton blank is disclosed. The retainable access tab may have a predetermined configuration such as keyhole configuration or a hourglass configuration. The retainable access tab extends the length of a roof panel of a carton which is formed from the carton blank. In this manner, a shortened straw may be utilized to access the entire contents of the carton. The retainable access tab provides a hygienic environment for accessing the contents of the carton by revealing a previously untarnished surface for penetration of the straw. The retainable access tab has a hinge which allows it to be retained to the carton after insertion of a straw, In this manner, the potential for littering is decreased and the potential for greater recycling is increased by the present invention.

Abstract: A blank for forming a gable top carton is set forth which reduces the surface area of the carton for a given carton volume. The carton blank comprises a generally rectangular body having an upper section, a mid section, and a lower section, each of the sections being separated from each other by one or more generally horizontal score lines. The upper section of the rectangular body comprises a plurality of score lines for defining a gabled top of the resulting carton while the lower section of the rectangular body comprises a plurality of score lines for defining a folded bottom section of the resulting carton. The mid section of the rectangular body comprises a plurality of score lines for defining four sidewalls of the resulting carton. Adjacent sidewalls are separated from one another by a first score line partially extending from the upper section and a second score line partially extending from the lower section.

Abstract: A reducible volume container includes a package wall made from a laminated material having interior surface and an exterior surface, with at least one tear strip formed in the package wall. At least one layer of the laminated material is a monoaxially oriented material disposed on an inner surface of the package wall. The tear strip is defined by a pair of generally parallel frangible tear lines. Each tear line includes a linear cut formed in the exterior of the package wall. The linear cut is disposed generally parallel to the axial orientation of the axially-oriented material, and each linear cut has a depth extending only partly through the thickness of the package wall.

Abstract: A reducible volume container includes a package wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface, with at least one tear strip formed in the package wall. The tear strip is defined by a pair of generally parallel frangible tear lines. Each tear line includes a pair of generally parallel creases formed on the interior surface of the package wall, and a linear cut formed in the exterior of the package wall. The linear cut is disposed in an area between the parallel creases and has a depth extending only partly through the thickness of the package wall.